INJURY UPDATE: AFC WIMBLEDON

29 August 2018

Nigel Powlson

NIGEL Clough has a growing injury list ahead of Saturday’s League One home game versus AFC Wimbledon.

John Brayford (hamstring), and Stephen Bywater (shoulder) both came off in the first half of the Carabao Cup victory over Aston Villa. Jake Buxton could also only make the bench because of a sore back. Damien McCrory (hamstring) and Joe Sbarra (ankle) will not have recovered in time for Saturday and Kyle McFadzean has been handed a one game suspension after being red carded for handball in the 1-0 win last night.

Nigel Clough said: “John Brayford felt his hamstring after winning a header in the first five minutes. It’s very tight this morning but it hasn’t gone, so we will have to see how he is. He will have a scan and we can assess the damage from there.

“Stephen came out to punch one and the lad has just caught him on the shoulder, not intentional, and although he tried to continue he couldn’t and at the end of the game couldn’t raise his right arm. I don’t think he will be any good for the weekend so we will make calls to bring in a keeper on loan.

“Jake Buxton trained a little bit on Monday but after that his back really stiffened up and I don’t think he could have come on for more than a few minutes. Like Jamie Allen with his back, we have to see how he is day by day, try some manipulation, whatever he needs. We are going to need him.”

Damien McCrory is not expected to recover from his hamstring in time for Saturday and Joe Sbarra’s ankle problem is also likely to keep him out.

Clough said: “Damien maybe involved against Walsall on Tuesday as he’s coming on very well. If that’s too much of a risk, we will leave him until the Accrington game. Joe Sbarra, if he has no reaction, will be back in training by the end of this week.”